Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: Latest on QBs, New 2-Round Mock Draft and More

No position in sports receives more attention, more credit and more blame than quarterback in the NFL. It's the ultimate spot where you can't win a title without a good one—just look at the last 14 Super Bowl champions as evidence of that.

Quarterbacks drive the NFL, which is why every team is obsessed with finding, developing or acquiring a franchise passer. And even those teams with an aging starter—and in some cases a future Hall of Famer—are always looking for the next guy.

Of the 32 teams in the league, I count 14 with a legitimate shot at taking a quarterback early this year: Buffalo, New York Jets, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Washington, Chicago, New Orleans, Arizona and San Francisco. And those are just the teams that would take a quarterback in the first three rounds.

Supply and demand are fascinating parts of team building, and this year's quarterback crop has been overlooked and designated as poor because there isn't an Andrew Luck or Jameis Winston at the top. The one thing that hasn't been articulated well to the public is that this quarterback class is deep. Real deep.

Mitchell Trubisky will be a first-rounder, and it's becoming more likely that Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes will be, too. Three quarterbacks in Round 1 would match last year's number. There's also a solid chance DeShone Kizer and Davis Webb go in the first 32 picks. The last time five quarterbacks went in the top 32? 1999.

As we hit the two-week mark before the April 27 draft, talk regarding the 2017 class has come full circle. Evaluators might not love any quarterback in this class enough to trade up for him, but we could see an 18-year high set in terms of how many are selected in the first round.

What else is happening as teams finish draft meetings?

Updated two-round mock draft

Myles Garrett's draft grade

Latest NFL draft rumors

Scouting in 140

Fixing the Jacksonville Jaguars

The Scout's Report

—The New York Jets brought in North Carolina's Trubisky for a workout Thursday, according to multiple outlets. The Jets have been connected to the quarterback throughout the draft process. They remain a buttoned-up front office, but I don't buy that the team is as interested in Trubisky as it's letting on. My hunch: The Jets would love for a team to trade ahead of them to take Trubisky.

—Our own Mike Freeman had a great piece this week covering rumors for every team in the league. One notable nugget: The Cleveland Browns are torn internally on what to do with pick No. 1. Freeman wrote the front office wants Myles Garrett and head coach Hue Jackson wants Trubisky. This meshes with what I heard at the combine from a scout: Jackson likes Trubisky a lot. He might get a chance to draft him at No. 12 overall.

—One more quarterback note: If you're looking for a Mahomes landing spot, two teams I'm told by scouts and general managers that really like him are the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs.

—Two players invited to the NFL draft in Philadelphia declined invites: Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams and Florida cornerback Quincy Wilson. Both will spend time with family at home.

—If you're looking for a surprise name invited to the draft, Colorado's Chidobe Awuzie might be the least well-known of the 22 invitees.

—Scouting sources with the Tennessee Titans have confirmed the team's interest in Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Clemson wide receiver Williams. If Lattimore is on the board at No. 5 overall, I expect he'll be the team's pick. If Lattimore is gone, to Chicago for example, look for Williams to get heavy consideration.

—As mentioned above, Lattimore to Chicago is a hot rumor among NFL general managers. One executive I spoke with felt "99 percent sure" the Bears would draft a defensive back if they keep the No. 3 overall pick.

—The New Orleans Saints are in "win-now" mode, according to a front office source. With the No. 11 pick, the team would love to see Alabama's Reuben Foster on the board, I've been told.

5 Names to Know

After spending all week on the phone with NFL scouts, coaches and general managers, I'm hearing these five names are moving way up draft boards. These late surges happen as team information leaks to the media, and each of the five players listed below has a chance to hear his name called in the first round.

5. Wide Receiver Curtis Samuel, Ohio State

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"Don't be surprised if Samuel goes ahead of Dalvin Cook," is what one scout texted me this week. Samuel, who played running back and wide receiver at Ohio State (the same role Braxton Miller played), has elite skills as a speed player. He can affect the game as a runner, receiver and return man. That value—and teams seeing what someone like Tyreek Hill can do to an offense—has pushed up his stock.

4. Defensive Lineman Chris Wormley, Michigan

"He was overshadowed in that defense, but the dude can play!" a scout said.

Wormley hasn't been a hot name among draft analysts, but the scout I spoke to said it wouldn't be a surprise if in a weak defensive tackle class, Wormley heard his name called much earlier than we all expect. Wormley is a big man (6'5", 298 lbs) with the skill set to be an instant starter in a 3-4 defense. I project him as more of a top-50 kind of guy, but there's buzz building that he could go higher.

Scouts I spoke to for this article praised Barnett's effort and production. He didn't have the most amazing 40-yard dash times (4.88 seconds), but his tape against SEC competition was impressive. Teams drafting in the middle of the first round that need an outside pass-rusher (Indianapolis, Baltimore, Tampa Bay) could all call Barnett's name.

2. Linebacker Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt

LB Zach Cunningham.Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

"I know we like him, and I don't think he'll get to us."

That's what a team scout told me about Cunningham, who was considered a Round 1 prospect before the combine but started to slip due to concerns about his play power and tackling skills. But as one coach told me, "Cunningham missed some tackles, but did you see how many he made?"

1. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, Alabama

"Guys that fast and that physical go in the first round," said a scout.

Humphrey's tape isn't the best of the 2017 cornerback class, but his upside and traits are eye-opening. Teams like the New Orleans Saints or Tennessee Titans in the middle of the first round are likely targets for Humphrey. And as one rival scout told me, "don't rule out the Ravens with that Alabama connection."

Two-Round Mock Draft

As more information and moves come into focus, there's never a bad time to update the mock draft. That's what today's focus will be, with a two-round mock based entirely on what I'm hearing teams will do.

Updated 2-Round Mock Draft

Round/Pick

Player

1. Cleveland

DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

2. San Francisco

RB Leonard Fournette, LSU

3. Chicago

CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

4. Jacksonville

DL Solomon Thomas, Stanford

5. Tennessee (from Rams)

WR Mike Williams, Clemson

6. New York Jets

S Jamal Adams, LSU

7. Los Angeles Chargers

S Malik Hooker, Ohio State

8. Carolina

RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

9. Cincinnati

LB Reuben Foster, Alabama

10. Buffalo

QB Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina

11. New Orleans

CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama

12. Cleveland (from Eagles)

CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State

13. Arizona

LB Haason Reddick, Temple

14. Philadelphia (from Vikings)

CB Quincy Wilson, Florida

15. Indianapolis

EDGE Derek Barnett, Tennessee

16. Baltimore

TE O.J. Howard, Alabama

17. Washington

DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama

18. Tennessee

CB Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado

19. Tampa Bay

RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State

20. Denver

OT Garett Bolles, Utah

21. Detroit

TE David Njoku, Miami (FL)

22. Miami

OG Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky

23. New York Giants

QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson

24. Oakland

LB Jarrad Davis, Florida

25. Houston

OT Cam Robinson, Alabama

26. Seattle

CB Kevin King, Washington

27. Kansas City

QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech

28. Dallas

CB Tre'Davious White, LSU

29. Green Bay

EDGE T.J. Watt, Wisconsin

30. Pittsburgh

S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

31. Atlanta

OG Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin

32. New Orleans (Patriots)

LB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt

Round 2

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33. Cleveland

WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan

34. San Francisco

DE Charles Harris, Missouri

35. Jacksonville

RB Alvin Kamara, Tennessee

36. Chicago

S Budda Baker, Washington

37. Los Angeles Rams

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC

38. Los Angeles Chargers

QB Davis Webb, California

39. New York Jets

CB Adoree' Jackson, USC

40. Carolina

TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss

41. Cincinnati

RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma

42. New Orleans

DE Taco Charlton, Michigan

43. Philadelphia

WR John Ross, Washington

44. Buffalo

WR Zay Jones, East Carolina

45. Arizona

QB DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame

46. Indianapolis

G Dan Feeney, Indiana

47. Baltimore

EDGE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA

48. Minnesota

S Marcus Maye, Florida

49. Washington

CB Obi Melifonwu, UConn

50. Tampa Bay

WR Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington

51. Denver

DL Malik McDowell, Michigan State

52. Cleveland (from Titans)

S Josh Jones, North Carolina State

53. Detroit

DE Jordan Willis, Kansas State

54. Miami

CB Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson

55. New York Giants

LB Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State

56. Oakland

WR Curtis Samuel, Ohio State

57. Houston

CB Sidney Jones, Washington

58. Seattle

DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State

59. Kansas City

CB Rasul Douglas, West Virginia

60. Dallas

S Justin Evans, Texas A&M

61. Green Bay

RB D'Onta Foreman, Texas

62. Pittsburgh

TE Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech

63. Atlanta

DL Montravius Adams, Auburn

64. Carolina (from Patriots)

DE Tarell Basham, Ohio

Matt Miller

Parting Shots

10. Many have asked what I would do to fix a team since mock drafts are based on what I'm hearing franchises will do and not an opinion on what they should do. Using Fanspeak's On the Clock tool, here's my seven-round mock draft on how I'd fix the Jacksonville Jaguars:

Fixing the Jacksonville Jaguars

Round/Pick

Player

1/4

DL Solomon Thomas, Stanford

2/35

RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma

3/68

QB Brad Kaaya, Miami (FL)

4/110

S Desmond King, Iowa

5/148

CB Shaquill Griffin, Central Florida

6/187

TE Eric Saubert, Drake

7/222

OT Aviante Collins, TCU

7/240

DL Harold Brantley, Missouri

Matt Miller

9. As our NFL Draft 400 series rolls on, it seems important to note just how well Garrett graded out.

The Texas A&M defensive end scored an 8.5 on the grading scale. For comparison, last year's best grade was a 7.99. That was handed out to Jalen Ramsey and a healthy Myles Jack. In 2015, the highest grade was 7.50 to both Winston and Leonard Williams.

Garrett's 8.50 is the highest since Luck and Von Miller, respectively. Both received a 9.0 on my grading scale, which equates to a rare, once-in-a-lifetime talent.

To live up to that mark and the status as third-best grade, Garrett will have to not just excel early in his career but also sustain the success. Jadeveon Clowney is another highly graded player over the last five years, but his early struggles to stay healthy have affected how many view him (even though he was a stud in 2016). Garrett, like so many great pass-rushers before him, will have a massive spotlight on his play early and often.

8. On Thursday night, the NFL released the list of 22 players invited to the 2017 draft in Philadelphia. Here's that list, via NFL director of communications Randall Liu:

Randall Liu @RLiuNFL

Here are the 22 prospects scheduled to attend the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia: https://t.co/nDaT6EGCMl

Players invited to the draft aren't guaranteed to go in the first round, but the NFL goes to great lengths to make sure the players invited aren't sitting around for three days. If you're on this list, people in the NFL headquarters have heard you're a top-50 prospect.

7. A few weeks back, we took a look at how the Cleveland Browns have been rebuilding this offseason. Today, we take a deep-dive look at what the Indianapolis Colts have done in new general manager Chris Ballard's first offseason.

Ballard has added tough, low-cost free agents who will come in and make a big impact on the defensive front seven. Armed with pick No. 15 in the first round, the Colts could still add a marquee pass-rusher in the draft, too, while taking advantage of the deepest running back class in recent memory in the middle rounds.

1. Our NFL Draft 400 series began April 3, with full scouting reports and player comparisons for the top 400 players in the 2017 class. Starting with the quarterbacks, here are the completed profiles so far: